Complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP-cDNA) analysis of differential gene expression from the xerophyte <i>Ammopiptanthus mongolicus</i> in response to cold, drought and cold together with drought

Abstract

In this study, we examine Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, the only desert ultra-broad-leaved evergreen shrub in Northwest China. During this study, A. mongolicus was exposed to drought 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG)), low temperature (4°C) and a combination of drought and low temperature (20% PEG and 4°C). Complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) technology was used to analyze differential transcriptional expression under the aforementioned abiotic stresses. We found that 9 of the studied expressed sequence tags (ESTs) are related to protein modification, 12 ESTs are involved in the control of transcription and translation, 9 ESTs are involved in metabolism, 11 ESTs are related to aging and defense genes, 1 EST plays a role in signal transduction, 3 ESTs are related to cell development, 3 ESTs may play a role in energy production and photosynthesis, 2 ESTs are related to protein transport and 49 ESTs are of unknown significance.

Key words: Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, cDNA-AFLP (Amplified fragment length polymorphism), differential gene expression.